Ashley Cole is the 2/1 betting favourite with bookmaker Paddy Power to be the first Premier League player to sign for Real Madrid as Jose Mourinho looks set to be named the new coach of the Spanish giants.
With the Special One almost a certainty to be Real Madrid boss next season and left back one of the few positions in the Real line-up in clear need of strengthening, Mourinho could be tempted to sign Cole for the second time in his career.
Cole is followed in the betting by Steven Gerrard at odds of 7/2. The Liverpool captain has come close to signing for Jose in the past and could finally be tempted by a move away from Anfield, having pointedly not committed to the club after their disastrous season.
Darren Haines, spokesman for the bookmaker, said: “The end of Ashley Cole’s marriage leaves him with few ties to a new life in Spain whilst Steven Gerrard has been unusually silent on his commitment to Liverpool, suggesting this could be a two-horse race.”
Other Premier League names in the frame include Mourinho’s Chelsea stalwarts Drogba, Lampard, and Essien at betting odds of 6/1, 11/1 and 12/1 respectively with Wayne Rooney at odds of 14/1.
Liverpool’s Fernando Torres, despite often claiming he would never play for Los Merengues due to his ties with the city rivals Atletico, is available at betting odds of 12/1 should he decide it would be preferable to life in the Europa League with Liverpool.
